Cable pull-off mechanism



Jan. 25, 1944. c. o. BRuEsTzE CABLE PULL-OFF MECHANISM F'iled Nov. 3, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l mm n2 Q c* mm om hm am m I l I l l llTl im@ my S QM n mR N B m o. n MGM d H Patented Jan. 25, 1944 CABLE PULL-OFF MECHANKISM Carl 0. Bruestle, Rahway, N. J.,assgnory to Syn-- cro Machine Company, Rahway, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 3, 1942, Serial No; 464,409

15 Claims.

This invention relates to means of the caterpillar type for pulling cable and similar elongated ilexible bodies through and from machines in which they are being processed.

Particularly in the case of the manufacture of built-up electric cables of larger sizes, difliculty has been encountered in the construction of mechanism suitable for the purpose of exerting suflicient lengthwise pull on the cable as it is fed through machines for applying helical insulating Wraps thereto Without damage to the cable. Reference is made to the taping operation, although it will be apparent from the following description that this structure is useful in pulling cable during the various processing steps, and in some cases may not be limited to use with cable, but might be employed for pulling large rope, tubing and the like.

An important object of this invention is the provision of an easily adjustable machine of this type which is capable of use in the processing of large cables of different sizes within the range of the machine.

Another object of' this invention is to provide a cable handling machine so constructed as not to cause bending and return bending of the cable with subsequent shifting of the insulating strips as is the case in the frequently used circular drum type of pull-oli capstan. f

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type which will readily adapt itself to the normal irregularities or variations in the diameter of large cables as a result of manufacturing variations, splices and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of this type constructed and arranged so that there islittle danger of getting the cable dirty and greasy in the machine itself, as isVV liable l to happen in some forms of machines of this type heretofore employed. In this connection it may be noted that particularly. in the case of paper insulated cables it is undesirable to get grease and oil on the paper insulation. Some machines heretofore used have introduced the diiculty of themselves dropping .oil and grease on the cable during its transport therethrough.

Thisdiculty is eliminated by this machine. Another advantage of the machine of this invention is present in the speed with which the f machine may be adjusted very quickly to adapt it to the handling 0f a wide range of cable sizes, as well as for adjusting the pressure of the grip ping devices on the cable. Another advantage of the'structure herein disclosed is found in the fact that the nature and manner of gripping the cable makes it practically impossible for the machine to slip on the cable and thereby damage it.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiment herein disclosed.

The subjectmatter of this invention 'is related in some respects to another machine having similar objects disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 464,410 iiled November 13, 1942 and entitled Cable pull oir mechanism.-

This invention resides substantially in the combinationg construction, arrangement and relative location lof partsx all as will be described in detail below.'

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the embodiment selected for the purpose of disclosing herein the subject matter of my invention;

Figure 2 isa side elevational View of the mechanisinl of Figure 1 with a portion of the left hand end cut away;

Figure 3 is a crosssectional View taken on the line v3`3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-,sectional View taken on the line 4-,4 of Figure 1; Y

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-'5 of Aligure 1; and l Figure 6 is an-enlargeddetail viewof the gripping devces showing how a similar cable is gripped and showing a slightly modified form of gripping iaws- As illustrated the machine consists of a frame'- work" of suitable configuration n comprising end supports I connected by lower longitudinal beams 3,. upper box-like beam housings 2 and suitable crossbraces vvll all united together in any suitable manner topmake a'rigid,l strong framework.I Supported on the longitudinalbearns 3 near each end of the machine are .a pair 'of bearings 5 in which vare journaled the{transversevshaits As shown in Figure 3, koneo'f they shafts 6 is Provided with a drive pulleyfll l vby means of which the power for Operating the machine may he applied thereto.v

Slidably supported on adjacent pairs of rodsl 9 area Pair lof `Vshaped jaws lll, each of which. paircoinprises a gripping device. A plurality of `these. grippingV devices are provided throughout the' chain lengths as shown. Each pair comprises..

' to causethem to -take desiredpositionsalongfthe-"j opposed jaws, as is clear from the gures. The inner faces of the jaws are inclined at a suitable angle, as for example at l20`degrees, and are covered with renewable gripping plates I' which may be of some suitable resilient materia1 such as rubber of the proper stiffness. The jaw pairs are slidably mounted on the rods 9 and have interposed between them coil springs encircling the rods and acting'to hold kthe jawsjafmax'imum distance apart when unrestrained,'as determined by the lengths of the rods 9. The outer faces of the jaws are provided with hooks in which are journaled small pressure rollers I2 which cooperate with a pair of side rails I4, as shown vparticuf larly well in Figures 1 and 3'.' Extendinglongi-- tudinally of the machine, justA below lthe'upperl flight of the endless chain are a pair of supporting rails I3 best seen in Figurev 4,positioned and z shaped to cooperate with the chains 8 so v as to aid in carrying the weight thereof as we1las"of the cable and maintain the upper flight in ,thisl region in a straight or horizontal plane. n The rail I4 at the left hand side of themachine asviewed in Figure 4 (i. e. the lower rail in Figure 1) is `provided with a pair of arms I5 which may slide longitudinally in sleeves IB of similar crosssectional shape mounted on the adjacent box-like housing 2. Pinned in the arms I5 are threaded Cil . shafts I1 whichV pass through the internally threaded hub of a worm wheel I8. The threads of the Vhub of the worm wheel engage 'the threads on the shaft I1 so as to act as a, rotatable nut causing theshafts I1"tomove endwise without turning when the nut is revolved, The nutis pro-v vided with journaled hubs rotatably mountedfin.' the bearingsl I9, as clearly shown in Figurel 4. A worm cooperates with each worm nut I8 and vis mounted upon ashaft 2| which extends to one'end of the machine asV shown Figure 2 and is shaped t0 receive'a crank.v Theshaft 2I` causesthe operation of both worm nutsl I8 so that the side pressure rail I4 may be moved `trans versely of the machine towards and away from its longitudinal axis while maintaining it paralleltothataxis. .Y j

'I'he other pressure rail I4, that i'sthe upper rail in Figure 1, is provided with a'pair 'of'bracketsv for pivotally supporting at'f 24 one end of 'each of the bell crank levers 23,. .T, hes'je' level-snare* pivotally mounted at their elbowsat' 2 501'1brack-V ets secured to "the adjacent boxlike member 2i 'Ihe other end 26'of each bell crank lever'j2 bifurcated so as to nest with a shaftf21jnigziulne'd"l on the adjacent box-like `member "2 for "sliding movement in bearings 28.` The shaft 21 is' p rovided with alpair'jfivcollars 29"secure`d thereto adjacent lthev bifurcated arms26 of tliveibelljcrank'-,"` levers. These arms also engage sleeves 3IIjslid7 ably mounted on' the shaft 21 against eachfof whichone end respectively of 4each of the' springs 60 3i bear. The other ends of `these Vsleeves bear j against threaded "collars v32`which are threadedlyj 'j mounted 'on sleeves 33"pinned toitliefshaftzlas" shown. The pressure which thelsprings'f I 'exert` on the bell crank levers vmay therefor'ebead.- justed'; by rotating `'the collars` 32 on theirrsleei/es i shaft21. v, V

The right hand end,` Figure" 1, 'offsliaftjZ 'isf' coupled to a, 'threaded shaft35 by'meansof jai' coupling device |00, shaped to slide along-thejside' face of the box-like member Zan'd prevent'rot I position of the side 'rails` I4 canmbe "adjusts exert .the desired. mesure' fg ih .1diffefenrcrfe which is journaled a rotatable nut 31 having a gear on its outer periphery. A shaft 39 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings is provided with a pinion 38 at one end meshing with the external gear on the nut 31 and provided with a crank at its other end. The lower pressure rail I4, Figure 1, is provided with a pointer 23 cooperating with a fixed scale mounted on the lower box-like member 2 and calibrated for different cable sizes to determine the properV position of that side rail. The proper position of the other side rail is determined by means of a pointer 34 secured toV theupper box-like member, Figure 1, and cooperating with a suitable calibrated scale vmounted on the shaft 21.

l In using the machine the rst step consists in layingthe` starting end of the cable in any position. p This is accomplished by rotating the crank 40 in a direction to cause the shaft 21 to move to the left until the collars 28 thereon engage the ends 26 of the bell crank levers 23. These levers are then e. swung counterclockwise Aby further movement of shaft 21 to the left to withdraw the upper rail or shoe I4'(Figure 1) back away from the path of travel of the cable. In a somewhat similar manner the rotation of crank 2lv will causev the Withdrawal of the lowershoe or rail 4I so that the gripper jaw pairs on the carrier will be separated a maximum amount. rIhe `starting end of the cable may then be laid inl between the gripping devices and the rails I4 returned to a position corresponding to the particular size of cable being processed. As the rails return to this position they engage the vgip- -per jaw pairs from opposite sides and slide them towards each other (see Figure 3) compressing the springs II. These rails may be accurately positioned to cause the gripping devices to en-y gage the cable under the desired pressure dependent upon the resistance it affords to longi- `tudinal movement. The scales and pointers 23 and '34 will facilitate these adjustments.l The chain carrier is then'set in motion so thatl its upper flight moves from left to right (Figure 1).

l As the gripper pairs swing around into the region of `the curved ends of the rails I4'they gradually move in to'successivelygrip the cable under thev desired pressure. As is` l'clearly seen fromFigue l.. when the lgrippingv devices are free of thev rails I4 they separate" av maximumaniount'"s4 that theyv may passV by the cable 'intheir' travel incurved paths through sprockets 1." As is clear from Figure 4, the'cable is grippe'df by the resilient facingsy III at four spaced "points forfeach shoe pair. The number Vof shoe pairs acting being' largeLThe necessary pressure Vto pullthe cable lengthwise againstany resistance ,encounteredA Will.be evenly distributed oven-taL large'number of points so that a damaging" pres sure isfrlt applied to the'c'abl' at anyu one ,poi

Another important feature'of the inve'tiorif i present in the fact that Vthe `'iril'lling faces.v le.' e1; such angles that a large number'of cabiesiis may readily be accommodated. In additi "t sizes.""" l o Themenner of adjusting the. lower sidereu I4 in Figure 14 is VquiteV readily apparent." Assreft ill is rotated vthe nuts lay ere eeusdto ota. and ,l thereby Vshift the shafts `I 1 en'dwis'e,"clrril'ig. A the associated ren rla with' them: Thejotherjsde reu 14 is 4adjusted 'by rotating ferank'faoiiwhioii supplies power to the gear nut31 t'o'cause haft' left. .The fundamental action of thus positioning the shaft 21 is to determine the point at which the springs 3| will exert the desired pressure when a cable of a size correspondingto the adjustment is lying in the machine- It is, of course, apparent to those skilled in the art that the real function of this machine is to apply the moving power to a `cable during the processing in some other machine to cause the lengthwise movement thereof necessary to overcome any forces encountered during the processing, regardless of the nature of that processing. Y

In Figure 6 is shown a slight modification of the gripping jaws and itis also shown how a cable of smaller .size is accommodated. It will be seen that thefour points of contact in the smaller sizes are nearer together than they are in the larger sizes. gripping jaws are lined with suitably shaped unitary resilient pads l". The pads for either type may be secured in the jaws in any suitable and well known manner, as by cement, fusing or the like. It is also-noted that Figure 6 shows a different form of side pressure rails I4', but this is an immaterial variation.

It is, of course, apparent that as a cable moves through the machine if it is found for any `reason that too much pressure is being exerted on the cable, this pressure can readily be relieved by shifting the shaft 21 to the left, or if the pressure is too light it can be increased by shifting the shaft 21 to the right.

From the above description it will be seen that the endless chains are at the sides of the cable, and hence any oil or grease on them that might drop off will not drip on to the cable as might be the case in machines where at leastone of the endless chains is directly above the cable. These chains must be well oiled in use, and would therefore be a possible source of contamination of the cable were they not disposed as in the illustrated structure.

From the above. description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention may be applied by means of structures of other physical forms, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited except as required by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a `cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a framework, an endless carrier mounted on said frame for longitudinal movement, a plurality of gripping devices comprising pairs of members slidably mounted on said carrier for movement at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the carrier, means for engaging said gripping devices in pairs for sliding them into and holding them in cable clamping relation, and means for applying power to cause movement of said carrier.

2. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a framework, an endless carrier mounted on said frame for longitudinal movement, a plurality of gripping devices movably mounted on said carrier in opposed pairs, resiliently acting mean-s for engaging said gripping devices in pairs to move and hold them in cable gripping position, means for applying power to cause movement of said carrier, and means for independently positioning said holding means to p-redetermine the gripping pressure of said devices.

3. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a framework, an endless carrier mounted on said frame for As illustrated in Figure 6, the.

last means acting through resilient connections.l

4. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of parallel rails mounted on.

said framework, a `plurality of pairs of gripping jaws, and an endless carrier upon which all of said gripping jaws are arranged for moving them. between said rails, whereby an elongated member may be gripped .at a plurality of points to move it endwise.

5. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of parallel rails mounted on said framework, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws, an endless carrier upon which all of said gripping jaws are arranged for clamping movement when carried between said rails, whereby an elongated member may be gripped at a plurality of points to move it endwise, means for positioning one of said rails transversely of its length, and means including a vresilient connection for positioning the other of -said rails transversely of its length. f

6. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of parallel rails mounted on said framework, a. plurality of pairs of gripping jaws, and an endless carrier upon which all of said gripping jaws are arranged for movement by and transversely of said rails, whereby an elongated member may be gripped at a plurality of points to move it endwise, said rails lying at thev sides of the path of said elongated member.

7. In a cable pulling machine of the type de-A scribed, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of endless chains supported on said framework for movement along parallel paths, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains so that they move in unison, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws slidably mounted on said rods, springs interposed betweenl the members of each pair of gripping jaws to hold them apart, and said towards each other. Y

8. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of endless chains supported on said framework for movement along parallel paths, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains so that they move in unison, a plurality of pairs -of gripping jaws slidably mounted on said rods, springs interposed between the members of each pair of gripping jaws to hold them apart, and means positioned to engage said gripping jaws in pairs and force them towards each other, said means comprising a pair of rails positioned at the sides of the path of travel of said gripping Jaws.

9. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of endless chains supported on said framework for movement along parallel paths, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains so that they move in unison, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws slidably mounted on said rods, springs interposed betweenvthe memlongitudinal movement, a plurality of gripping means positioned to engage gripping jaws in pairs and force themv framework, a pair of endless chains supported on said framework for movement along parallel paths, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains so that they move in unison, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws slidably mounted on siad rods, springs interposed between the members of ,each pair of gripping jaws to hold them apart, means positioned to engage said gripping jaws in pairs and force them towards each other, and means for positioning said rails with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chain to vary the spacing between said chains.

l 11. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of endless chains supported on said framework for movement along parallel paths, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains so that they move in unison, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws slidably mounted on said rods, springs interposed between the members of each pair of gripping jaws to hold them apart, means positioned to engage saidgripping jaws in pairs and force them towards each other, said means comprising a pair of rails positioned at the sides of the path of travel of said gripping jaws, and means for positioning said rails with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cha-in to vary the spacing between said chains.

12. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of endless chains supported on said framework for movement along parailel paths, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains so that they move in unison, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws slidably mounted on said rods, springs interposed between the members of each pair of gripping jaws to hold them apart, means positioned to engage said gripping jaws in pairs and force them towards each other, said means comprising a pair of rails positioned at the sides of the path of travel of said gripping jaws, said gripping jaws having rollers to ride on said rails, and means for positioning said rails with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chain to vary the spacing between said chains.

13. In a cable pulling machinevof thetype de.` scribed, the combination includingasupporting framework,.a' pair of endless chains supportedy on said framework for movement along :parallel paths, ai plurality of cross rods' connecting said chains so that they move in`uni'son, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws slidably mountedon said rods, springs interposed between the members of each pair of gripping jaws to hold them apa-rt, means positioned to engage said gripping jaws in pairs and force them towards each other,V

and means for positioning said rails with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chain to vary the spacing between said chains, said last means including resilient pressure means.

14. In a cable pulling machine of the deel-4` said means comprising a pair of rails positioned.

at the sides of the path of travel of said gripping jaws, and means for positioning said rails with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chain rto vary the spacing between said chains, said last means including resilient pressure means.`

' 15. In a cable pulling machine of the type described, the combination including a supporting framework, a pair of endless chains supported on said framework for movement along parallel paths, a plurality of cross rods connecting said chains so that they move in unison, a pluralityv of pairs of gripping jaws slidably mounted on said rods, springs interposed between the members of each pair of gripping jaws to hold them apart, means positioned to engage said gripping jaws in pairs and force them towards each other, said means comprising a pair of rails positioned at the sides of the pathof travel of said gripping jaws, said gripping jaws having rollers to ride on said rails, and means for positioning said rails l with respect to the longitudinal axis'of the chain CARL O. BRUESTLE. 

